TOURISM New Zealand has this morning announced the lucky pair who has won the opportunity to be the first Australian same-sex couple to marry in New Zealand.

Newcastle partners Paul McCarthy and Trent Kandler will fly to Wellington for a ceremony on August 19, when same-sex marriage is officially recognised in the Marriage Amendment Act.

"Wellington, has been at the forefront of progressive law change and is absolutely positively proud to host the country's first same-sex marriage by an Australian couple," said Positively Wellington Tourism chief executive David Perks.

"We feel really honoured, we've been discussing it for years," said McCarthy

"It was important for us to have our family and friends there and we wanted to spend it with all our loved ones so to be able to do it in New Zealand, which is where we had our first overseas holiday together, is really special to us."

"I hope our own government can step up and realise that same-sex couples are the same as everyone else, we just want to spend the rest of our lives together."

The ceremony will be held at New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa.

"Trent and Paul's entry was unique, inspiring and had a distinct Kiwi flavour," said Tim Burgess, Tourism New Zealand's General Manager Australia.

"Their affection for New Zealand shone through and we immediately knew that we had the perfect Australian couple to come and tie the knot in New Zealand. We're looking forward to helping Trent and Paul 'Make History' in Wellington next month, it's going to be a wonderful celebration.'

Eight family and friends will also receive return flights to join the celebrations, but another ten of the couple's closest and dearest will fly in for the festivities.

"We've been amazed at how much support we've had, in such short notice and distance of travel. Everyone has been so excited for us. The reception is full!"

Pluto sandwich.Source: Supplied

Meanwhile, Air New Zealand has announced it will offer one New Zealand couple the chance to be the first same-sex couple to marry at 30,000 feet.

Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who plays Mitchell Pritchet in the hit Channel Ten show, will join the lucky kiwi couple with his fiancee on a domestic flight between Queenstown and Auckland.

"Justin and I are thrilled to be taking part in witnessing this historic moment for New Zealand," he said in a statement.

"After launching 'Tie The Knot', our bow tie campaign for marriage equality in the U.S., it is clear that the journey towards marriage, both in the U.S. &beyond, means so much to us. We cannot wait to celebrate this joyous occasion with Air New Zealand!"

Being Australia's closest neighbour to allow same-sex marriage, Tourism New Zealand is expecting an influx of couples to tie the knot in the land of the long white cloud. 45,000 honeymooners visit each year but that number is set to increase.

"You never know until you count them at the end of the year, but I'm optimistic the opportunity is there," Burgess said.

New Zealand's House of Representatives passed a bill to approve same-sex marriage on April 17 with a majority 77- 44. It was the thirteenth country to allow same-sex couples the right to marry and the first country in the Asia-Pacific.

Earlier this week Queen Elizabeth same sex marriage the royal seal of approval, making Britain the 15th country to legalise same-sex marriage.

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